tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77909802348763805352015-11-27T07:11:00.154-08:00Building Homes, Changing LivesF Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-72948817628927100602015-03-31T13:43:00.001-07:002015-03-31T13:46:58.815-07:00Collegiate Challenge 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIiqBSVZLpI/VRr_mZkvOXI/AAAAAAAAATM/zX-QlVAlWxQ/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIiqBSVZLpI/VRr_mZkvOXI/AAAAAAAAATM/zX-QlVAlWxQ/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey Everyone! We’re back again with an update for you! Last week, we finally had our collegiate challenge! This year, we had students from Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity come out again and share their hard work and experiences with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. It was a very fun and rewarding week for them and for all of us as well. We would like to thank them for coming out and spending their entire spring break with us and sharing in this amazing journey to better homes and living for hardworking people. While they were out here, they were able to work at the Trinity Lane site as well as work at the Casa Del Norte Mobile Home Park! Before they left, we had the opportunity to interview some of the students that came out for spring break. One of the people that we interviewed was the group lead, Roy. Here’s what he had to say when we asked him how he felt working with Habitat impacts the students who come here and help out during their spring breaks:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I think that the kids really benefit from seeing the future homeowners come out here and work with them. I think for them to actually see the people that they are really helping, I feel is a really big benefit for them. Also, being a group of engineers, they get to us some of their engineering skills out here on the work site and to see them apply mathematics and science it really gives them that hands on experience they don’t usually get in the classroom. It takes a special type of person to want to give up their spring break to come out here and give their time back and these kids seem to really enjoy the challenge and the excitement of helping these families, as they come out here in the hot sun and work! It’s a lot of fun and they do have a lot of time to also enjoy their spring break as well so I think it’s a very beneficial experience for everyone.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>332</o:Words> <o:Characters>1897</o:Characters> <o:Company>Self</o:Company> <o:Lines>15</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2225</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> 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UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We would like to thank Theta Tau again for coming out here and spending their spring break with us! We look forward to seeing you all again next year! We would also like to thank all of the people in the community who helped make this year’s Collegiate Challenge so wonderful by contributing lunches for the challengers and for providing a place for the students to stay! Thank you to Costco, Wood Ranch, Zapparelli's&nbsp;</span>Pizzeria,<span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Subway, and Don Howald from Camarillo United Methodist Church!</span></span><!--EndFragment--><br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;ＭＳ 明朝&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7Vlobmmb4Y/VRsGH1usvWI/AAAAAAAAATc/OK3sqWhns4E/s1600/11081275_934472606584805_1312064342729446155_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7Vlobmmb4Y/VRsGH1usvWI/AAAAAAAAATc/OK3sqWhns4E/s1600/11081275_934472606584805_1312064342729446155_n.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;ＭＳ 明朝&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;ＭＳ 明朝&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-6080893574929312012015-03-19T13:32:00.001-07:002015-03-19T13:32:18.487-07:00Future opportunities<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our affiliate has been very blessed in enjoying the hard work and dedication of several interns during the past few months. &nbsp;This semester, we are fortunate to count on Mr. Robert Modine and his construction and leadership skills. &nbsp;Rob comes to us from United States Navy and is pursuing a degree in Communication from CSU Channel Islands. &nbsp;Not only are we grateful for his service to our country, we are also grateful is helping us our as a Crew Lead on our Trinity Lane site in Santa Paula. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In any case, we recently asked Rob what it is like to be an intern for Habitat Ventura. &nbsp;Here are his words:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is an amazing organization to be affiliated with. &nbsp;The staff has gone out of their way to make sure that my needs are met first. &nbsp;Currently, I spend most of my time on the build site in Santa Paula, CA. &nbsp;This is where I am blending my past background of construction into my current field of study. &nbsp;I am a currently a student at CSU Channel Islands, majoring in communication and interning with Habitat for Humanity for a community involvement project. &nbsp;I am also a Seabee in the United States Navy Reserves and served 5 years of active duty prior to. &nbsp;It was an easy choice for me when choosing a community partner because of my past construction background in the Seabees and my more current knowledge base that I have gained through the undergrad communication program at Channel Islands. &nbsp;This blend has made it easier for me to work with groups of volunteers that come from various demographics and teach them how to do multiple tasks. &nbsp;Habitat is going out of their way for me to not only meet my educational needs, but for me to use this opportunity that will help further my future opportunities".</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI9LtOrmsYg/VQswOhWRJ_I/AAAAAAAAAS0/_jckS2CPzx4/s1600/20150228_091107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI9LtOrmsYg/VQswOhWRJ_I/AAAAAAAAAS0/_jckS2CPzx4/s1600/20150228_091107.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Rob pictured to the right</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Interested in becoming an intern or volunteering with us? &nbsp;Visit our website at </span><a href="http://www.habitatventura.org/" style="font-size: small;">www.habitatventura.org</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;and or contact Rachel McIver at and learn how.</span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-22901579607948881652015-02-24T13:46:00.000-08:002015-02-24T13:46:39.408-08:00Groundbreaking Ceremony for Homes 59 & 60<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs0dhAaebu8/VOzo017jjkI/AAAAAAAAARw/UPdNT_z2Nfw/s1600/TrinityGroundBreak.2.21.15-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs0dhAaebu8/VOzo017jjkI/AAAAAAAAARw/UPdNT_z2Nfw/s1600/TrinityGroundBreak.2.21.15-6.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It's update time! On Saturday, February 21, 2015, we had our groundbreaking ceremony for homes 59 and 60! This means, our new builds will soon be underway! This time around, as usual, we had a great turn out and we would like to thank everyone in the community for taking time our of their busy schedules to help us celebrate the two new homes that we are preparing to build. We would also like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting the families as well. Your kindness hasn't and will never go unnoticed!<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mJ4kEYEY04/VOzsl7u6wmI/AAAAAAAAASU/UG7q77p6CHI/s1600/Habitat%2BComm%2Bpartners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mJ4kEYEY04/VOzsl7u6wmI/AAAAAAAAASU/UG7q77p6CHI/s1600/Habitat%2BComm%2Bpartners.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We would also like to thank our Community partners. You are all blessings to us and your handwork and dedication to what we do doesn't go unnoticed. We appreciate you SO very much! To see more pictures from the groundbreaking ceremony, make sure you head over to our Facebook page and check us out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-37154204496662975992015-02-12T13:55:00.000-08:002015-02-12T14:37:16.759-08:00Join Us in Welcoming Our Newest Habitat Families!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRzSBl3IAPY/VN0PpXzRSYI/AAAAAAAAARE/tcAA-nv0Dp0/s1600/Habitat%2BFamily%2Bpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRzSBl3IAPY/VN0PpXzRSYI/AAAAAAAAARE/tcAA-nv0Dp0/s1600/Habitat%2BFamily%2Bpicture.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been quite some time since we last updated you all on all of the progress being made over here at Habitat for Humanity Ventura County! Since it has been so long, we decided to update you with some awesome news first! The long selection process is over and on February 10, 2015 we finally announced the newest members of the Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County Family. Tuesday evening, the families came in and met all of us, as well as each other and it was a joyous occasion. Now it is time for us to introduce these three wonderful families to you, so that you can share in ours and their joy.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first family is a family of seven from Santa Paula. They are a family consisting of mom and dad, four girls ranging in age from 7 to 19 and one boy who is twelve years old. The second family is a family of four, from Oxnard, consisting of mom and dad with two children, a boy and a&nbsp;girl, ages 2 and 8. The&nbsp;final family is also another family of seven consisting of mom and dad, two girls, 10 and 20, and three boys between the ages of 11 and 21. The oldest daughter in this family has&nbsp;received many awards in school for her hard work as well.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All of the members in these families are hardworking people and they take great pride in all that they do. So, we ask that you join us in giving these families a warm welcome into their new extended family, Habitat for Humanity. We are so excited to be sharing in this incredible&nbsp;experience that these families will be going through and we can't wait to continue to update you all on the progress that will surely be made soon!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please come out and meet the families at the Groundbreaking Ceremony on February 21, 2015. It will be held at our Trinity Lane site in Santa Paula at 9:00 am. Hope to see you all there!</span>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-612408854777263332014-12-11T12:22:00.002-08:002014-12-11T12:25:10.446-08:00I really don't like good-byesAs the month of December comes to a close, as does the traditional school semester, we get ready to bid "adieu" to our wonderful Intern - <b><i>Natalie Stone</i></b>. &nbsp;She came to us from California Lutheran University and currently plays for the Women's Basketball team. &nbsp;She was a welcome addition to our Staff this semester and would brighten up our office with her positive energy and attitude. <br /><br />Time is really flying. &nbsp;Natalie started Interning for us back in July and now, she is wrapping up her assignments and preparing to leave next week. &nbsp;Her assistance came at a key moment since thanks to her, many open or pending projects were completed dutifully and efficiently. &nbsp;But before leaving, I was able to ask her a few questions about the time she spent here with us, sort of an exit interview I guess I can call it, and the following is her response: <br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">During my six months at Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County I have met some of the nicest, most genuine people who right away welcomed me onto their team. The employees have the biggest hearts and want to help as many people in their community as possible. Everyday I came into the office I had the chance to help on different projects. I was able to learn from each staff member and I am taking little pieces of advice with me from each of them. The greatest lesson I learned from Habitat is concept of time. The employees and volunteers of Habitat for Humanity make a difference in people’s lives and the community everyday. Just by giving your time and going the extra mile when needed the staff and volunteers from Habitat amaze me with what they are able to accomplish each day. The staff uses their time and effort to help others around them daily. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I absolutely loved helping with the Hearts for Hammers dinner in early October. I had the chance to have my hand in many aspects of the event. From planning, decorating, the silent auction, and tear down I really got to see the work that goes in behind the scenes of this nonprofit. Hearing the testimonies from the Habitat home owners was such a humbling experience and makes all the work in the office and behind the scenes so worth it to see that Habitat for Humanity really does change people’s lives for the better. The event was a total success, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to be apart of it.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I will miss the staff here at Habitat for Humanity of Ventura the most. Each staff member has taken me under their wing to teach me new skills and help me succeed. I could never thank them enough for welcoming me on their team and always being there to answer all my questions. This is a really special group of people and I feel honored to have gotten the opportunity to learn from them and work along side this remarkable staff.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thank your time and effort Natalie! &nbsp;We will absolutely miss you, but we will certainly not forget you! &nbsp;Your Habitat family wishes you the best of luck in all your future&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 23px;">endeavors</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">!</span></span></span></span></div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-63651809396922291152014-10-28T11:58:00.003-07:002014-10-28T11:58:57.850-07:00Wall Raising at Trinity Lane - Home #1<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iM1ajUEnVCU" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great video. &nbsp;I'm not even going to write some sort of narrative to try and describe what is happening here. &nbsp;Good people, doing good work. &nbsp;Period. &nbsp;For more really cool videos, please visit our YouTube page:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChl_BiZdmLyasHKUHJeBqGw" target="_blank">Habitat Ventura videos</a>.</span><br /><br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-91096262938975886022014-10-07T22:07:00.000-07:002014-10-07T22:10:36.705-07:00"I feel happy"<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Saturday night, our affiliate held it's second annual Hearts &amp; Hammers Dinner and Auction. &nbsp;The evening was nice, good friends, warm atmosphere and a </span><a href="http://stonefiregrill.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">wonderful meal</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.bobcareyfoto.com/Habitat-For-Humanity/Hearts-And-Hammers-2014/" target="_blank">Bob Carey, resident photographer, did an awesome job again capturing the spirit of the event</a>. &nbsp;We celebrated the fact that we have begun to build again, after a 2 year hiatus. &nbsp;We celebrated the exciting direction where we are headed and most of all we just celebrated all things "</span><a href="http://www.habitatventura.org/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Habitat</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening was truly enjoyable, I'm not kidding, it really was. &nbsp;It fun to compete with other attendees for live and silent auction items and it was exciting to hear from our Executive Director as to where the affiliate is headed, now that our current development is underway. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought the best part of the event was hearing from Rosa, one of our 56 Habitat homeowners, regarding the life-changing event she and her family went through almost 4 years ago. &nbsp;They went through a dramatic change as they moved from a small, cramped garage to a brand new, beautiful single family home.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But no one in the room captured the audience's attention like Mariana did. &nbsp;Mariana is Rosa's young daughter and she put into words how she felt about the whole experience.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsEy8pMN4Ss/VDTD_oZSdkI/AAAAAAAAAQw/GGuS9_MIkQw/s1600/20141006_184550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsEy8pMN4Ss/VDTD_oZSdkI/AAAAAAAAAQw/GGuS9_MIkQw/s1600/20141006_184550.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously, Mariana's written words cannot compare to her spoken ones, but her message is one and the same - <b style="font-style: italic;">gratitude</b>, so thank you Mariana, for sharing your thoughts with all of us.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-5239769553751096352014-09-11T17:39:00.004-07:002014-09-11T17:45:49.359-07:00<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bar tending for Cocktails in Havana 2014 at its finest</u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August 22nd, the Real Estate Partners held their 4th Annual Cocktails in Havana evening. &nbsp;This event has grown to become the second largest fundraising event for our affiliate and this year, there are rumors that net proceeds are near $60K. &nbsp;This has yet to be confirmed since the final tally is being added up however, anyway you look at it, that is an impressive amount. &nbsp;The first year, $11K were raised and the event has raised exponential amounts since then. &nbsp;We are extremely grateful to Peter and Kristina Kalaydjian and Lupe Flores for their hard work, dedication and passion for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County - thank you yet again. &nbsp;You guys rock!</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On that note, I would also like to give extra special kudos to my 2 cousins, Miguel and Chuy, for stepping up and bailing us out of a bind. &nbsp;Other than the beer and hard liquor sampling, we had no barman to mix and serve drinks this year. &nbsp;My cousins, who were on vacation here from Aguascalientes Mexico, offered to step in and volunteer. &nbsp;This opportunity was a piece of cake for them since they both work at one of the most popular watering holes back&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in their hometown&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">called "</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">La Cantina</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">". &nbsp;In any case, Miguel and Chuy got busy as they proved they were certainly no fish out of water. &nbsp;Peter </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">told</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> them his recipe for his famous "Jungle Juice" to which they picked up on right away. &nbsp;No ingredients were written down at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VV2G73dFRUo/VBI0WTfjWdI/AAAAAAAAAPw/YCSVK2Ryj6Q/s1600/20140822_165313.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the evening, some attendees only wanted juice while others wanted mixed drinks and this resulted in uneven quantities of remaining ingredients. &nbsp;So rather than closing up the bar, they began to do what they do best - they improvised. &nbsp;They made their own jungle juices and margarita mixes by skillfully combining remaining juices or soda and liquor until all ingredients were gone.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q63QWF23xsY/VBI0D8bhHmI/AAAAAAAAAPo/BeIwSEThxFA/s1600/20140822_212155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q63QWF23xsY/VBI0D8bhHmI/AAAAAAAAAPo/BeIwSEThxFA/s1600/20140822_212155.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talk about being resourceful. &nbsp;Not only did they use all ingredients wisely and evenly, they put out a tip jar and raised an additional $150 that went towards our mission. &nbsp;These 2 gentlemen did an awesome job and I personally will be forever grateful to them. &nbsp;I love these guys. &nbsp;<i>Gracias muchachos! &nbsp;Los quiero mucho!</i></span><br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-2348570209557873342014-08-11T13:23:00.000-07:002014-08-12T21:25:42.998-07:00Huge Turnout and Huge Thanks at Our Latest Family Selection OrientationsAfter a nearly two-year-long wait, we at HfHVC are excited to announce that new construction on Cemetery Road in Santa Paula is underway! The lot will be the site for 8 future homes, and with our first two families already selected, we've begun the selection process for the following homeowners. Two Family Selection Orientations were held at the Santa Paula Community Center this past week to guide families through the processes necessary to become HfH homeowners.<br /><br />The Orientations were massive successes with a total of nearly 200 families in attendance! Due to the efforts of our extremely capable volunteers and Family Selection Committee, both events went off without a hitch. A huge thank you to them and all those who attended the meetings!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LGepttcGrA/U-rodG3qbMI/AAAAAAAAAPY/M-Y7WzZz5Mg/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LGepttcGrA/U-rodG3qbMI/AAAAAAAAAPY/M-Y7WzZz5Mg/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" height="222" width="400" /></a></div><br />Another thank you is in order to the Boys Team Charity of Conejo Valley for their help in posting flyers advertising the event in Santa Paula. You can check out the Ventura County Star article detailing their work&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/boys-team-helps-habitat-for-humanity-get-word-out-on-santa-paula-homes_44433346" target="_blank">here</a>.F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-81108601805101515412014-07-01T15:57:00.000-07:002014-07-01T16:05:13.902-07:00<div style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A summertime hello to old followers and a hearty welcome to new readers! We are so excited to have you on our page, and hope you will follow along with our updates as we make strides in our new developments in Santa Paula. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County broke ground on April 5th to build 8 new single-family homes on Cemetery Road, our largest development in over 10 years! St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, Thrivent Financial and California Lutheran University have been instrumental in making this project possible, but any group that donates their time to Habitat for Humanity is composed of motivated individuals seeking to improve their community.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnnEsRl6NOI/U7M2kIi4ANI/AAAAAAAAAMw/JmieVxfRqcA/s1600/WomanBuild2014-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnnEsRl6NOI/U7M2kIi4ANI/AAAAAAAAAMw/JmieVxfRqcA/s1600/WomanBuild2014-9.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA8no_xXtdk/U7M2j4EYhHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/NswxNKI3Hyc/s1600/WomanBuild2014-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA8no_xXtdk/U7M2j4EYhHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/NswxNKI3Hyc/s1600/WomanBuild2014-18.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hI0ZfxjP2tk/U7M2ldFXZaI/AAAAAAAAANA/PcNQVP6Kdx4/s1600/WomansBuild.5.12.12-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hI0ZfxjP2tk/U7M2ldFXZaI/AAAAAAAAANA/PcNQVP6Kdx4/s1600/WomansBuild.5.12.12-28.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While Ventura County is a opportune area to live in, with beautiful landscapes and weather, it is also a area with great need and families that could use the assistance of their neighbors and beyond. In addition to our home builds, our Preserving Homes efforts have served over 300 home repairs since 1983. Our Brush with Kindness program consists of home improvement projects that deliver lasting impact, on both the recipient and volunteers. Spending time with Habitat is a worthy and fulfilling experience that deepens community connections.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have made it this far, consider joining with us in person in this new chapter.&nbsp;For upcoming volunteer dates, check back often to <a href="http://yourownhomeinvc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Building Homes, Changing Lives</a>, and Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County's official event page at&nbsp;<a href="http://hfhvc.volunteerhub.com/Events/EventGroup/Summary.aspx?EventGroupID=18727" target="_blank">http://hfhvc.volunteerhub.com/Events/EventGroup/Summary.aspx?EventGroupID=18727</a></span></div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-37898896267638433782013-11-14T10:29:00.002-08:002013-11-14T10:29:57.476-08:00Thank you to all our volunteers!Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and as we gather with family and friends, there are many things we give thanks for before sharing in the traditional meal of the season. One blessing we are very thankful for is each and every volunteer who has given their time and talent to aid in our fight against poverty housing. There is no greater gesture than the giving of our own personal time to stop and help others. At Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, we do not take donated time for granted.&nbsp;<br /> ﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QWDe0hpWkc0/UoUUvQTUsCI/AAAAAAAAAMY/L_kDsNF4R1E/s1600/IMG_5959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QWDe0hpWkc0/UoUUvQTUsCI/AAAAAAAAAMY/L_kDsNF4R1E/s320/IMG_5959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Wednesday Crew breaking for bread at noon</em></td></tr></tbody></table>We are truly blessed and humbled to count on hundreds of generous, dedicated, selfless, hard-working volunteers. We appreciate each one of you - whether you are a member of our Wednesday Crew, Saturday Crew Lead, office or ReStore volunteer, student from a local high school or college, member of the corporate world, construction journeyman, sales associate at a local retailer, local business person, or anything else in between. You are all second to none, and you are the main reason this Habitat affiliate has enjoyed 30 years of success.<br /><br />Thank you for your dedication, thank you for your time and thank you for your compassion! <br /><br /><em>May you all enjoy a blessed, bountiful and peaceful Thanksgiving.</em><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Candara; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Candara; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Candara; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-56663504454633738162013-06-24T12:16:00.004-07:002013-06-24T12:16:59.788-07:00Follow us on Instagram!As most of you savvy readers have discovered, Instagram is one of the newer social media tools used to share snapshots of that one special, funny, exciting or heart-warming moment you want <strong><em>everybody</em></strong> to see.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-godABLCsyik/UciaNkvQ6vI/AAAAAAAAAL4/KSqjRwlvI_I/s1600/Verizon+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-godABLCsyik/UciaNkvQ6vI/AAAAAAAAAL4/KSqjRwlvI_I/s1600/Verizon+After.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE Verizon Crew</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In keeping up with the Joneses, we are&nbsp;proud to announce that Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County now has it's own Instagram account.&nbsp; You can&nbsp;find us by tapping on the star symbol (bottom of the page, second icon from the left), followed by a tap on the magnifying glass (upper page, right side).&nbsp; Then, under "Users" type in&nbsp;"<strong>habitat_venturacounty</strong>",&nbsp;tap on&nbsp;"follow"&nbsp;and that's it!&nbsp; You can begin to enjoy our photos and now, thanks to an Instagram software update, <em>15 second videos</em>.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Make sure you follow us for great photos and videos!&nbsp; And don't forget to smile for our camera.....</div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-79962346275712112182013-05-29T21:06:00.001-07:002014-07-01T15:59:42.169-07:00It's All About ThanksI can never say thank you enough to all the volunteers, consultants, professionals and&nbsp;everyday folk&nbsp;that I have had the fortune of meeting while on the job.&nbsp; We are truly blessed to have so many caring folks who have an interest in our work and in supporting our affiliate.<br /><br />With that said, special thanks are in order for the 2 gentlemen pictured below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ngPA2M2mVo/UabQAZE6pxI/AAAAAAAAALo/m99hSwVkv-4/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ngPA2M2mVo/UabQAZE6pxI/AAAAAAAAALo/m99hSwVkv-4/s320/101.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is Tito, our Site Supervisor (pictured on the left) and Juan Carlo, photographer extraordinaire for the VC Star (pictured on the right).&nbsp; Tito is a bulldog and&nbsp;a go-getter and will not stop until the job is done.&nbsp; Tito's can-do spirit is contagious and we are lucky to have him.&nbsp; Thank you for being a member of our team.&nbsp; I don't know much about photography except for the term "point and shoot".&nbsp; But&nbsp;what I do know is that Juan Carlo is an <em>artist</em>.&nbsp; His down-to earth style and sensibility are reflected in his work and we are very fortunate to have him capture <a href="http://www.vcstar.com/photos/2013/jan/30/223123/" target="_blank">life&nbsp;happening</a> on our jobsites&nbsp;for the many readers of the VC Star.&nbsp; Thank you for helping tell our story and for&nbsp;your support!F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-62084462698185137872013-04-18T13:56:00.000-07:002013-04-18T13:56:21.103-07:00Landscape with a cause - The Surfrider FoundationLast Saturday, volunteers installed an "<a href="http://ventura.surfrider.org/" target="_blank">Ocean Friendly Garden</a>" (OFG) at the site of the home our affiliate repaired.&nbsp; Not to shower our own selves with praise or anything, but the home preservation turned out wonderful, thanks to the City of Ventura, the Westside Community, OFG&nbsp;and ALL the volunteers that came out in full force to assist another deserving homeowner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfT2uMPr6XM/UXBXqPOTTaI/AAAAAAAAALE/MpsOfu91uYw/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfT2uMPr6XM/UXBXqPOTTaI/AAAAAAAAALE/MpsOfu91uYw/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The folks from OFG have a really cool philosophy about water retention and we couldn't be more thrilled for the opportunity to have partnered with them on this home preservation project.&nbsp; There is a true science to looking beautiful <em>and</em> being environmentally friendly.&nbsp; We are grateful to Morrie, Laura, Tyrone,&nbsp;Paul and Jill for spearheading an exceptional effort that lead to a stunning result!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9269anFPtkc/UXBZuYy6UKI/AAAAAAAAALM/VXqeqzAi_2g/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9269anFPtkc/UXBZuYy6UKI/AAAAAAAAALM/VXqeqzAi_2g/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Last, but certainly not least, I would like to give a special shout out to Lori from the Westside Community Council (WCC) and to the WCC itself for treating volunteers to coffee and morning goodies from <a href="http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=27000282&amp;stx=django+%27s&amp;csz=Ventura+CA" target="_blank">Django's</a>.&nbsp; Thank you&nbsp;Lori and the WCC!&nbsp; If you are ever in Ventura's Westside, make sure you visit Maureen at Django's.&nbsp; Their coffee and pastries are simply amazing!<br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-52206758826706660392013-02-05T21:51:00.001-08:002014-07-01T15:58:40.500-07:00St. Bonaventure High School Sets an Example to FollowLast Saturday February 2nd, we officially started our Neighborhood Revitalization work in Ventura's Westside.&nbsp; This is an important undertaking for the affiliate since it encompasses a broader scope of activity as compared to our Preserve a Home program.&nbsp; But without getting into specifics about community development and home rehab services, I do want to mention our first volunteer group, <strong><span style="color: #38761d;">St. Bonaventure High School</span></strong>,&nbsp;did an absolutely outstanding job on this first day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlsw8mK80QQ/URHkme5lgOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/fj53--Gw2Os/s1600/IMG_6010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlsw8mK80QQ/URHkme5lgOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/fj53--Gw2Os/s320/IMG_6010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />This hard-working group of youngsters cleared out an entire&nbsp;backyard and nearly filled this trash bin in <em><u>less than 4 hours</u></em>.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIdLsAgih54/URHsbfBSkZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/6eAFKiCz5Uw/s1600/2013-02-02_14-13-22_795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIdLsAgih54/URHsbfBSkZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/6eAFKiCz5Uw/s320/2013-02-02_14-13-22_795.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br />That, is just simply outstanding.&nbsp; Many thanks to the&nbsp;fine young men and women&nbsp;from St. Bonny's and their coordinator, Katherine Kistler, for&nbsp;their fine efforts and for spending their Saturday with Habitat.F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-47049787024511977182012-12-20T12:35:00.001-08:002014-07-01T15:59:08.071-07:00Happy holidays to All!With the holiday season in full swing, I would like to take a moment to say <em><strong>thank you</strong></em> to all our readers from around the world and to all the volunteers that have helped us out in numerous occasions.&nbsp; Whether it be in the form of&nbsp;data entry at the office, working at the ReStore, manning a table or booth for us at a special event,&nbsp;or working at one of our construction sites, may all of you and yours enjoy the peace, warmth and happiness this season brings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cfb8BNDj2pY/UNNnz3mXRJI/AAAAAAAAAE4/3NBomc3O6Fw/s1600/Xmas+bless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cfb8BNDj2pY/UNNnz3mXRJI/AAAAAAAAAE4/3NBomc3O6Fw/s320/Xmas+bless.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />I enjoy Christmas presents just like everybody else does and I am not getting on a soapbox or anything like that, but let's not loose focus of the&nbsp;true meaning of the season.&nbsp; As much as I look forward to getting a cool present (like a remote controlled helicopter *wink-wink*), I would also enjoy a&nbsp;big, warm, sincere bear&nbsp;hug just as much........if not more.&nbsp; <br /><br />Often times, we take things for granted and forget how blessed we are to have what we have.&nbsp; We will often complain and wish we had more, but we shouldn't forget that there are families that are less fortunate&nbsp;and yet&nbsp;don't complain.&nbsp; In our daily dealings here, we have encountered a&nbsp;large number&nbsp;of&nbsp;families with untold stories&nbsp;that&nbsp;simply "make do" and press onward in life.&nbsp;&nbsp;So please take a moment to give thanks for your blessings and also&nbsp;say a prayer for the survivors of the horrible tragedy in Newtown CT.&nbsp; Sometimes, we just don't know how good we really have it.<br /><br /><em>From our Habitat family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy and healthy 2013!</em>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-2681388407729610372012-12-20T11:20:00.001-08:002014-07-01T15:58:55.918-07:00Embassy Suites Gives a Hand in Saticoy<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V5NknT9WF0o/UKba87JuLQI/AAAAAAAAAD8/pSeXnjv-1rk/s1600/Embassy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V5NknT9WF0o/UKba87JuLQI/AAAAAAAAAD8/pSeXnjv-1rk/s320/Embassy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thanks to the Debbie Chica and the good folks from Embassy Suites for coming to our Saticoy Preserve a Home (PAH) site the week before Thanksgiving. They did a fantastic job priming and painting the home's exterior. Not an easy job since the wood trim was dry and deteriorated nonetheless, the results were excellent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AkN4HzvwA4/UNNiydj8bJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/RNSBZ0QQauQ/s1600/F+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AkN4HzvwA4/UNNiydj8bJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/RNSBZ0QQauQ/s320/F+038.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thank your for helping and we look forward to having them return to another PAH site soon!<br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-24407976850515660662012-11-08T13:40:00.001-08:002014-07-01T15:59:29.088-07:00Strong Winds, Stronger Ladies<br />Not too long ago, we had a group of lovely ladies from LaReina High School&nbsp;volunteer at&nbsp;our Preserve a Home site in Saticoy.&nbsp; On that particular Friday, Santa Ana winds were whipping wildly throughout the site.&nbsp; Unfortunately, all of the day's tasks called&nbsp;for exterior work..........<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vySbPutvwCc/UJwienuqCAI/AAAAAAAAADg/zxq2Nq2qaBU/s1600/LaR+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vySbPutvwCc/UJwienuqCAI/AAAAAAAAADg/zxq2Nq2qaBU/s200/LaR+039.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt6nJUid--c/UJwj-xSRYpI/AAAAAAAAADo/u9A1cILbd74/s1600/LaR+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt6nJUid--c/UJwj-xSRYpI/AAAAAAAAADo/u9A1cILbd74/s200/LaR+034.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div><br />There is nothing more difficult than working outside in the wind - there really isn't.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is no fun AT ALL.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet this great group of gals toughed it out and carried on despite the adverse conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kudos to them being troopers and for doing an awesome&nbsp;job!&nbsp; And that's not just a bunch of hot wind..........<br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-61913195473428119782012-11-06T12:55:00.000-08:002012-11-16T16:24:56.022-08:00Saticoy's best kept secretWell, we are finally back to posting after being busy with other projects.&nbsp; We have a brand new website that is up and running.&nbsp; Our "<em>Builder's Bulletin</em>"&nbsp;maintains its steady readership base and Lynzi, our hardworking intern, has updated our Facebook page and Twitter account.&nbsp; So&nbsp;all our media resources are fresh and current.<br /><br />But all bragging aside, I'm going to completely change direction in this conversation and share one of Saticoy's best kept secrets.....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVFIrF__PYA/UJinlL6k_GI/AAAAAAAAADI/QCNdgdhBqvU/s1600/x+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVFIrF__PYA/UJinlL6k_GI/AAAAAAAAADI/QCNdgdhBqvU/s320/x+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Before heading out to our Preserve a Home site in Saticoy&nbsp;a few&nbsp;Wednesday's ago,&nbsp;I had heard that a&nbsp;food&nbsp;pantry was operating&nbsp;at the Jose R. Flores Community Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;When I arrived on site, the Center was buzzing with activity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Terri Hernandez, a local church volunteer with the Ventura First Assembly of God,&nbsp;was running the food&nbsp;pantry along with a handful of&nbsp;dedicated volunteers.&nbsp; Terri and her crew&nbsp;have smooth operation going and help feed up to <strong><u>120 families on weekly basis</u></strong>.&nbsp; She procures donations, qualifies applicant families and generates a great deal of positive energy around her program.&nbsp; Terri and her crew are&nbsp;hard workers and they are examples to be followed.&nbsp;<br /><br />But&nbsp;I was even more impressed&nbsp;to see that&nbsp;the homeowner currently receiving Preserve a Home services <em>was also volunteering his time and helping others!</em>&nbsp; Despite his health and limited mobility, the homeowner and his caregiver were fully active in distributing foods to needy families.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3H5kfgi-QE/UJipj0-ieOI/AAAAAAAAADQ/aIWpkJAU1PU/s1600/x+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3H5kfgi-QE/UJipj0-ieOI/AAAAAAAAADQ/aIWpkJAU1PU/s320/x+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is&nbsp;truly an&nbsp;awesome story.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many kudos to Terri for doing such a fine job with the food pantry.&nbsp; And special kudos our Preserve a Home homeowner too, for being such a&nbsp;great example of receiving and then giving right back.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />For more information on how to volunteer at the food&nbsp;pantry&nbsp;or to make a donation, please stop by the Jose R. Flores Community Center located at 11168 Violetta Street Ventura (Saticoy) any Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m.&nbsp; Or you can contact Terri directly at (805) 276-5906.<br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-71481553388518624232012-08-15T14:35:00.001-07:002012-08-15T14:35:37.128-07:00Cocktails in Havana 2012 was a huge success!<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last Friday night (8/10), the <a href="http://www.vchomefinders.com/index.html" target="_blank">Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR)</a> Affiliate's Committee&nbsp;hosted the <a href="http://cocktailsinhavana.com/" target="_blank">2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Cocktails in Havana</a> benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And just like last year, the event was a total blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Lots of cool people, great food, smooth drinks, some fine cigars, an awesome atmosphere and some really beautiful birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yes, you read correctly, birds!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL5WmThk-NU/UCs02jlRJJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/uJLAAwTtqVU/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL5WmThk-NU/UCs02jlRJJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/uJLAAwTtqVU/s200/037.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKnHIYFTi0A/UCsy6SUhsjI/AAAAAAAAACY/lDvAv74al4o/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKnHIYFTi0A/UCsy6SUhsjI/AAAAAAAAACY/lDvAv74al4o/s200/036.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this post isn’t specifically about those amazing birds or how good the food and drinks were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is a humble “<strong><em>thank you</em></strong>” to all the attendees, organizers, vendors and sponsors that made the event an absolute success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I don’t even know where to begin thanking people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One thing is for certain, it could not have been possible without <a href="http://contactescrowinc.com/index.html" target="_blank">VCCAR Affiliate's Committee</a>.&nbsp; Special thanks to them&nbsp;for putting the evening together and to all our<a href="http://cocktailsinhavana.com/" target="_blank"> sponsors</a> for their generosity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather than describing the evening via words, I will let&nbsp;a few&nbsp;photos do the talking.&nbsp; </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--po7jsx6rBg/UCs0JYsxktI/AAAAAAAAACg/KVfPh5GmcgY/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--po7jsx6rBg/UCs0JYsxktI/AAAAAAAAACg/KVfPh5GmcgY/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun and exciting network opportunity</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uR5Ulzs_kug/UCs0WkqUrnI/AAAAAAAAACo/LoIQPGmXTMg/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uR5Ulzs_kug/UCs0WkqUrnI/AAAAAAAAACo/LoIQPGmXTMg/s320/155.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attendees dancing the night away</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0beMyJP_XNA/UCs0jT_2dyI/AAAAAAAAACw/eaSckkjwnFo/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0beMyJP_XNA/UCs0jT_2dyI/AAAAAAAAACw/eaSckkjwnFo/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can't forget the tequila.....</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year's event is now in the books, but it wont be long before&nbsp;the Committee is back at it again, planning for 2013.&nbsp; If you haven't been to a Cocktails in Havana evening, you are truly missing out on a great party for an equally great cause.</span></div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-8136005973490118122012-06-04T18:08:00.000-07:002012-06-04T18:08:10.034-07:00Best. Ink. Ever.Last weekend, we had the good fortune of having Justin from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, serve as a volunteer on our Preserve a Home site in Ventura.<br /><br />We couldn't help but notice the unique tatoo on the back of his left leg.&nbsp; If you look closely at the photo, you will see what it is.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MWD3iCJ06KA/T81ZFzg-KvI/AAAAAAAAACE/S5runZZylEs/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MWD3iCJ06KA/T81ZFzg-KvI/AAAAAAAAACE/S5runZZylEs/s640/136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And no, it's not temporary.&nbsp; Is that dedication or what?&nbsp; We love our volunteers and it looks like they love us right back!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-3270513130195152982012-05-25T19:15:00.001-07:002012-05-25T19:15:28.684-07:00Way to go Kim!Yesterday afternoon,&nbsp;Stacy Swanson our Executive Director, gave&nbsp;Habitat Board Members and&nbsp;Staff some great news regarding&nbsp;Kim Larkins, our Board of Directors Chair, Construction Crew Leader and friend.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrlBqhHP7xA/T77IcRpnBoI/AAAAAAAAAB4/A7wA5XxdFFk/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrlBqhHP7xA/T77IcRpnBoI/AAAAAAAAAB4/A7wA5XxdFFk/s320/007.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim (on the right)&nbsp;hard at work with volunteers</td></tr></tbody></table>It just so happens that Kim is one of a&nbsp;select few that is being recognized for&nbsp;her dedication by Amgen.&nbsp; She is receiving the 2011 Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Award.&nbsp; And&nbsp;with this honor, our affiliate will receive $5,000.&nbsp; For more info on Amgen's contributions and Kim's accomplishment check out: <a href="http://contributionsreport.amgen.com/staff/habitat-for-humanity">http://contributionsreport.amgen.com/staff/habitat-for-humanity</a><br /><br />The funds will go a long way and that's awesome.&nbsp; What's even greater is Kim's achievement.<br /><br />Way to go Kim!F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-72177056486215243532012-05-10T12:29:00.001-07:002012-05-10T12:29:24.244-07:00Women Build 2012 is underwayAs most of our followers are aware, this week is Habitat for Humanity International's&nbsp;Women Build Week 2012.&nbsp; Locally, there are many great&nbsp;ladies working hard to build homes for our next two&nbsp;homeowners, which happen to be&nbsp;women as well.&nbsp; It's a wonderful event and&nbsp;just below is a narration from Angela, one of&nbsp;yesterday's awesome volunteers.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUdGDsybG5A/T6wA3goFL4I/AAAAAAAAABs/K1Eb4thaquk/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUdGDsybG5A/T6wA3goFL4I/AAAAAAAAABs/K1Eb4thaquk/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HFH homeowner Rosa pitches in during Women Build 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><em>"Today was a great build day for the 18 Monsanto people, and the 6 Lowe's crew that showed up. Everyone involved was gracious and giving. The major projects today comprised of laying shingles, painting, and some inside pre-drywall work. Everyone met Maria and she even made new friends. It was very hot and we encouraged sunblock and water intake....some lost track of their bottles. Lowe's brought some bags to give away and will again tomorrow. Debra brought oranges and Angela brought crystal light. We had pizza for lunch instead of McDonalds, but no one seemed to mind, and munched on the trail mix snacks while waiting for delivery. The toilets the park were open which made it very nice.&nbsp;Matt and Mike were great and helpful as well as the regular very experienced volunteer crew. Coffee was brought in by Denise from Monsanto....Starbucks makes gallon to go insulated containers....I had forgotten how innovative Americans are when it comes to convenience items. I think that covers most of our day. Thanks so much for allowing me to participate."</em>&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: right;"><em>Kind regards</em>, </div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>Angela</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you Angela, for sharing your thoughts with all of us.</div>F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-27647108966094363692012-05-01T17:15:00.000-07:002012-05-01T17:15:01.086-07:00INTUIT chips in at the officeLast Thursday, the weather didn't cooperate and as a result, we couldn't host any volunteers&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Stroube site. The good folk from INTUIT, which have become regular volunteers with us, had signed up to to work but had no where to go.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OlQJHEIFQQs/T6BugMAvpgI/AAAAAAAAABg/jw-OJFP1DRA/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OlQJHEIFQQs/T6BugMAvpgI/AAAAAAAAABg/jw-OJFP1DRA/s320/IMG_4042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well, taking advantage of their&nbsp;humble disposition, we asked if they could pitch in at the office and help with some much needed routine maintenance.&nbsp; We also&nbsp;had gobs and gobs of data entry that needed to be taken care of.&nbsp; So without batting an eye, they jumped right into the fray, no questions asked.&nbsp; Some of them even helped at the ReStore.&nbsp; Thanks to them, part of our modest office had some fresh paint applied, the day's ReStore donations&nbsp;were processed&nbsp;quickly and the data entry work was completed - <strong><em>ALL</em></strong> of it.<br /><br />How cool are these volunteers?<br /><br />Their spirit of service is awesome!&nbsp;&nbsp;This goes to show that whether it's volunteering at a construction or home preservation site, at either&nbsp;ReStore or <em>pitching in at the office</em>, the cause is one and the same, a county where everyone has a decent place to live.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790980234876380535.post-53609573307831096552012-03-20T12:42:00.000-07:002012-03-20T12:42:04.692-07:00Louisville H.S. does their partWhile spending&nbsp;most of last Friday morning on the Minor Repair site in Ventura, Matthew O. stopped by to pick up some tools and equipment to take back with him to the Stroube St. site.&nbsp;&nbsp;He mentioned how stoked he was since the ladies from Louisville&nbsp;High School&nbsp;out of Woodland Hills&nbsp;were doing an awesome job.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxkvwF9Lqgs/T2jW9f5_ZBI/AAAAAAAAABY/vAiaMqsotlg/s1600/LHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxkvwF9Lqgs/T2jW9f5_ZBI/AAAAAAAAABY/vAiaMqsotlg/s320/LHS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had already heard that these ladies did excellent work so I decided to stop by the Stroube St. site on my way back to Oxnard and see what they were up to.&nbsp; When I arrived on site,&nbsp;they were as busy as can be&nbsp;completing a fence, staging materials for the next day and&nbsp;keeping the site clean.&nbsp; As expected,&nbsp;this great group of gals lived up to the reputation they are known for - <em>exceptionally hard workers</em>.&nbsp; Kudos to all of you!&nbsp; Thank you so much for your time and effort!<br /><br />That particular Friday was cold and a bit blustery however, these wonderful ladies&nbsp;showed up,&nbsp;braved the weather&nbsp;and&nbsp;helped us in our mission to&nbsp;fight homelessness - way to go Louisville!&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />F Floreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393356801953745140noreply@blogger.com0